Make the resolution: Try a new lens for your camera (Albuquerque Journal)

Want to experiment? Lensbaby Spark is a cheap special-effects lens for Nikon
and Canon mount dSLRs.

The most popular reason nonprofessionals buy dSLRs or other types of
interchangeable-lens cameras is because they want better photos or faster
performance than a point-and-shoot can deliver; the power of manual controls
and interchangeable lenses seem to be a secondary concern. Nevertheless, I'm
still routinely surprised when someone hands me his dSLR and it's set to auto
and equipped with a standard kit lens.

The best (and cheapest) way to advance your photography is to switch out of
auto; here's a map for venturing into that new territory. But the next best --
and not-so-cheap -- way to inject some new life into your photography is to
try a new lens. (Know nothing about lenses? Jump to Basic terminology)

There are a variety of reasons to invest in a second or third lens -- if
you're up to your third, chances are you don't need any encouragement from me.
The first, and possibly most compelling, is that you simply can't get the
shots you want with the lens you have, usually because most kit lenses have a
limited telephoto range. ...

As the Indiana basketball season has arrived at Christmas with an 11-1 record
and a top 10 national ranking, I think most Hoosier fans are content where
their team is at this point in the season. Yes, there was a hiccup against
Butler but that's all it was. And I think as we move on, we're going to find
out that was a pretty good Butler team, too. And while IU still has one non-
conference game remaining (against Jacksonville Friday night), I think most IU
fans are beginning to look ahead to a week from today when Indiana will open
the Big Ten season on the road on New Year's Eve against Iowa. This program
hasn't fared well in recent years in Iowa City and that in and of itself makes
you shake your head a little bit. But we'll have more time to talk about that
later. So what is the Indiana Basketball team doing while you are all home for
the holidays? Hopefully about the same thing that you're doing. In the case of
Victor Oladipo, however, maybe not. In a tweet on Saturday, Tom Crean wrote
this about Oladipo. ...